Happy (belated) birthday Google
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Yesterday was the search engine Google's 10th birthday. Google has changed our lives in so many ways, including the amazing boost that it has given to the natural human capacity for hypochondria and paranoia. I was reminded of this last night, in an experience that was my own personal 10th birthday celebration of the wonderful possibilities of Google.
Last night (about an hour after she had gone to sleep) I heard Elsie crying. I went in to check on her and found her head covered in blood. It was caked onto her face and was all over her pajamas and sheets and blankets. I couldn't tell where the blood was coming from - whether she had vomited it, or had a nose bleed, or something else. At that point, I must admit, I did panic a little. I got Dave out of Bible study and we ended up deciding that because she had been sick all day (I wondered if it was a side effect of the virus or the medicine she was taking), he had better take her to the hospital.
Despite the kind offers of the guys in the Bible study group to stay and mind the kids while both of us went, we thought it would be easier if Dave took Elsie alone, so I kissed them both goodbye and off they went. Then, instead of doing something productive, or praying for my little girl, I sat down at the computer, and googled various combinations of "blood", "virus", "child", etc etc. The most freaky results came with "bleeding nose virus" when I got these hits:
New virus causes deadly bleeding (ABC News in Science)
Unknown Virus Hits Yemen: Death by Profuse Nose Bleeding
At this stage I was getting more than a little irrational, but at least I had the good sense to STOP GOOGLING and go and get a cup of tea. Let this be a lesson to you all, my friends, Googling in these situations is ALWAYS a mistake. Tea is much more useful.
PS. It ended up just being a simple nose bleed... but she did have a lovely night out with her daddy.
5 comments:
Oh my - I am glad that Elsie is ok. I would have been panicking too! Yes, google is not the best remedy in these situations...seems to always excacerbate the sense of panic :)
you gave me a chuckle...I must confess I have done that exact same thing. Google isn't the best medicine for a good nights sleep :o)
Amen! Nothing turns my concern into full blown panic like a visit to Dr. Google!
oh I can so relate, my husband is always telling me off for googling 'symptoms'...it's a very unhelpful and unhealthy habbit that our techno-dependent lifestyle has created. Last night as I lay in bed and watched the whole room spin while trying not to be sick I started to let my mind wander into paranoid territory. Surprise, surprise I woke up fine and dandy! At least I stayed away from google...
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who does this!!
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